Confucius

Confucius, born Kong Qiu in the state of Lu (modern-day Shandong), lived during a period of political turmoil known as the Spring and Autumn period. He served in minor government posts but spent most of his life as an itinerant teacher, attracting disciples with his emphasis on self-cultivation, ritual propriety, and the importance of education. His teachings, transmitted orally and later compiled by followers in the Analects, form the foundation of Confucianism, a system of ethics and social philosophy that became the official ideology of imperial China for over two millennia. Though he wrote no books himself, his legacy endures through the Analects, a collection of aphorisms and dialogues that remains a cornerstone of Chinese literature and thought, influencing governance, education, and family life across East Asia.